CHANNEL 5 AND AMC NETWORKS’ ACORN TV ORDER SECOND SERIES OF THRILLER THE MADAME BLANC MYSTERIES

London, 8th August 2022: Channel 5 and AMC Networks’ Acorn TV today announce a second series order for crime drama The Madame Blanc Mysteries, which will include a Christmas special. Clapperboard (Cold Call, The Teacher, The Holiday) and Saffron Cherry Productions (The World According to Grandpa) will co-produce with Acorn Media Enterprises on board as international distributor. The series was ordered by Paul Testar, Commissioning Executive, Drama, Channel 5 and Paramount+.   

The Madame Blanc Mysteries S2 (7 x 60’) sees renowned and respected antiques dealer, Jean White, return fresh from surviving an attempt on her life by the duplicitous Barbara. Across the series, Jean’s expertise in the world of antiquities proves once again the key to solving a series of murders and mysteries against the backdrop of the beautiful French village of Sainte Victoire.   

The second series will kick off with The Madame Blanc Mysteries Christmas Special and sees creator of the series, Sally Lindsay (Cold Call, Mount Pleasant), return to reprise her role of Jean White. Sally has also joined forces again with Sue Vincent (Mount Pleasant, Shameless) to co-write the second series with Sue also returning on screen as Gloria Beaushaw. In the festive special we see Jean coming to the aid of Chief of Police Caron, played by Alex Gaumond (The Syndicate, Death in Paradise, Two and a Half Minutes), who finds himself on the other side of the interview table accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Across the rest of the series, we’ll also find Jean and Dom; played by Steve Edge (Cruella, Murder They Hope, Housebound), growing ever closer – but will friendship finally grow into something more? Love rolls into town for Gloria in the form of a new local cabbie and Barbara, still at large, has deadly plans to finally finish what she began in series 1. Further casting announcements will be made in the coming months.   

The second series will be directed by Dermot Boyd (Mount Pleasant). Mike Benson (Cold Call) will serve as Executive Producer for Clapperboard alongside Sally Lindsay and Caroline Roberts-Cherry (The World According to Grandpa) for Saffron Cherry.    

On the additions to Channel 5’s expanding drama slate Paul Testar said: “The first series of The Madame Blanc Mysteries proved very popular with our viewers and I’m delighted that we are working again with Sally Lindsay and Saffron Cherry, along with our long-standing production partners Clapperboard and Acorn TV, to delve deeper into more mysteries and murders in the beautiful Sainte Victoire.”   

Catherine Mackin, Managing Director, Acorn Media Enterprises said: “The Madame Blanc Mysteries expertly delivers on Acorn TV’s promise of not only captivating mysteries, but a transportive experience. It’s clear our audience enjoys following Jean White on the exciting twists and turns she faces throughout Sainte Victoire, and we’re delighted to deliver an expanded return with six episodes and a Christmas Special. Thank you to Sally, Sue, C5 and Clapperboard.”    

Mike Benson, Managing Director, Clapperboard adds: “I think in some quite dark times a show like The Madame Blanc Mysteries gave the audience a picture postcard world packed with loveable characters and intriguing mysteries. We were delighted with the response to Series 1 and are thrilled Acorn and C5 have invited us all to visit Sainte Victoire once again – especially as more of the bars and restaurants are open this year!”   

Sally Lindsay concludes: “The team and I were overwhelmed with the amazing response to The Madame Blanc Mysteries last year and Sue and I were thrilled to get the go ahead to create 7 more mysteries in the beautiful sunshine of Sainte Victoire. We were even more delighted to create a Christmas special as Christmas television has always been a highlight of the television year for me and we can’t wait to inject some much-needed sunshine right in the middle of winter.”   

Filming will begin on location this year, with the Christmas special set to air on Channel 5 in 2022, while the rest of S2 will transmit in 2023.   

ENDS 

For further enquiries please contact: Kate Killgour | katherine.killgour@vimn.com Hannah Allan | hannah.allan@vimn.com Kate Keilty | kate.keilty@vimn.com Joy Phillips | joy.phillips@amcnetworks.com    

Notes to Editors:   

 About Channel 5: Channel 5 is a public service broadcaster and the UK’s third largest commercial TV station. Launched in March 1997, Channel 5 has been part of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS) since its acquisition in September 2014.   Channel 5 and its digital brands – 5STAR, 5USA, 5Select, 5ACTION and the on-demand service My5 – offer a diverse range of issue-led documentaries & popular factual celebrating the British countryside and drawing talent to the channel, accessible history, premium drama and critically-acclaimed children’s, news and current affairs programming. Through its agenda-driving commissions, Channel 5 leads on societal issues from inequality to homelessness and mental health, aiming to tell the story of modern Britain by reflecting the lives of people across the nation.   In 2018, Channel 5 won its first BAFTA for Cruising with Jane McDonald. The following year, Raped: My Story won best Single Documentary at RTS. In 2020, it won Channel of the Year at the Broadcast Awards and by the RTS. In addition that year, it secured its first ever Grierson award win in the ‘Best Single Documentary – Domestic’ category with Suicidal: In Our Own Words. In 2021, it won best factual entertainment at the Broadcast Awards for Springtime on the Farm. It also won best drama at Voice of the Listener & Viewer for All Creatures Great & Small the same year.   

About Paramount Global: Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic studios, networks and streaming services, its portfolio of consumer brands includes CBS, Showtime Networks, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+, Pluto TV and Simon & Schuster, among others. The company delivers the largest share of the U.S. television audience and boasts one of the industry’s most important and extensive libraries of TV and film titles. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, Paramount Global provides powerful capabilities in production, distribution and advertising solutions.   

About Acorn TV: AMC Networks’ Acorn TV is North America’s largest streaming service specializing in premium British and international television. Acorn TV adds exclusive programming every week to a deep library of revered mysteries, dramas, and comedies – all commercial-free. Acorn TV’s recent slate is comprised of critically acclaimed commissioned and original series including popular New Zealand detective series My Life Is Murder (Lucy Lawless), acclaimed Irish crime thriller Bloodlands (James Nesbitt, co-executive produced by Jed Mercurio), British crime drama Whitstable Pearl (Kerry Godliman), Emmy®-nominated Queens of Mystery, Kiwi romantic comedy Under the Vines and British detective drama Dalgliesh (Bertie Carvel), to name a few. Current and upcoming Acorn TV Original Series include UK detective drama Harry Wild (Jane Seymour), Signora Volpe (Emilia Fox), The Chelsea Detective (Adrian Scarborough), Darby and Joan (Bryan Brown, Greta Scacchi) and many more. The above add to a growing catalog of popular bingeable dramas including Agatha Raisin (Ashley Jensen), A Place to Call Home, Jack Irish (Guy Pearce), Doc Martin (Martin Clunes), Deadwater Fell (David Tennant, Cush Jumbo), all 22 seasons of fan-favorite Midsomer Murders, highly-rated drama The Nest, and groundbreaking period drama A Suitable Boy, among others.   “glorious streaming service… an essential must-have” – The Hollywood Reporter “Netflix for the Anglophile” – NPR   Acorn TV is available for $6.99/month or $69.99/year. Facebook: OfficialAcornTV – Twitter: @AcornTV – Instagram: @Acorn_tv   

About Clapperboard Studio: Clapperboard Studios was set up in 2020 as the scripted label and partner company of Chalkboard – Producers of 2019’s Cold Call - and Storyboard Studios in Scotland. Since its inception Clapperboard have gone on to produce a diverse range of dramas including the critically acclaimed The Teacher, the ratings winning Intruder and the hit comedy drama The Madame Blanc Mysteries for Channel 5. The company is currently in production with 6 new dramas due to launch in 2022 and 2023 including the new Paramount + adaption of the acclaimed Jess Ryder novel The Ex Wife - produced in partnership with Blackbox. Clapperboard is headed up by Exec Producer and MD Mike Benson and in 2022 has been nominated for Best Production Company at the Edinburgh TV Festival Awards.   About Saffron Cherry Productions: Saffron Cherry Productions is an award winning company based in Manchester. It makes Kids, Factual and Drama focussing on female skewing pieces and diverse storytelling. In Kids, Saffron Cherry produces The World According to Grandpa starring Don Warrington for Milkshake! which recently won the Broadcast Award for best pre-school show and the VLV Award for Excellence in Broadcasting for best children’s programme. Other shows include The Wonton Warrior for CBBC which is currently nominated for two international awards at both The Rockies and Kidscreen. In Drama, SCP makes the Madame Blanc Mysteries for Channel 5 and Acorn TV with their co-production partners Clapperboard Studios.  The series is created, co-written and stars Saffron Cherry’s creative director Sally Lindsay. Saffron Cherry has a drama development deal with the BBC. Recent factual commissions include Emmeline Pankhurst; The Making of a Militant for the BBC and Noel Coward by Julian Clary for Sky Arts.